In a classic poverty-row noir, the protagonist struggles helplessly in the grip of inexorable fate. Currently rated 7.4 at the IMDB.

This was the first poverty-row film chosen by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry, in 1992. Don't miss it.

The copy you find here is sharper than the two that have already been uploaded. And the mpeg2 file contains nav packets, so you can load it into DVDAuthorGUI (a free program) and quickly create a DVD to watch on your television.


This movie is part of the collection: Film Noir

Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
Audio/Visual: sound, black and white
Keywords: noir; Tom Neal; Ann Savage; poverty row; suspense; P.R.C.

Individual Files

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Reviewer: jwk1846 - - September 30, 2012
Subject: good story
depressing but well done B movie

Reviewer: Framan - - September 14, 2012
Subject: Quite entertaining
But a little depressing as well. Classic.

Reviewer: Max Reiner - - June 25, 2012
Subject: Song in Movie
The juke box was playing Benny Goodman's version of "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me." I didn't check the credits for the band and singer in the movie though. Great tune. That tune was played at the beginning of "The Caine Mutiny." At the bandstand playing piano there was Max Steiner himself, who scores the movie music.

Interesting trivia, eh?

I had hoped this movie "Detour" would have used the country/western song "Detour" as well. But I think the movie came before that song. :)

Reviewer: drains - - June 24, 2012
Subject: thank you
thank you

Reviewer: I Am Gen X - - March 4, 2012
Subject: Great movie, made me miss Garfield.
I watched this one earlier this week and really enjoyed it. If you just give into it and go along for the ride, it's one helluva ride. However, I couldn't help but think of John Garfield the entire time I watched this movie! Don't get me wrong, Neal was terrific in this; but it was as if he took it upon himself to channel the spirit of Garfield at every turn. It made for a fantastic movie, but it also made me miss Garfield. A lot.

Reviewer: porterville - - August 1, 2011
Subject: "Detour" Is A Very Powerful Film
I concur that this is one of the best films on the Internet Archive. The acting is good, the plot holds up throughout the film, and the theme of fatalism is paramount. Tom Neal and Ann Savage (the latter not appearing until the middle of the film)play well against each other. This film is well worth watching. I would suggest that the overall theme of fatalism should be kept in mind by the viewers rather than the flaws mentioned in other reviews below. This would be worth viewing in sociology and psychology classes.

Reviewer: sirderek - - June 28, 2011
Subject: Detour *****
This film was as unpredictable as it was fascinating. I'm sure that everyone can identify with and feel empathy for this poor guy that just keeps trying to do the right thing, but fate just won't let him win.. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.. But sometime when life gives you crap.. you really CAN'T make crap-aid!

Reviewer: splue - - June 6, 2011
Subject: new video player a big improvement
working rly well in firefox!!!

Reviewer: allanmr - - June 6, 2011
Subject: None of your video players work for me
Why did you change your video players?
Now I can't play any of your stuff,unless you correct this,I'll have to go somewhere else to watch movies.As far as I can see there was no reason to change your video players.I'm sorry.

Reviewer: patt17 - - February 27, 2010
Subject: Wow
The protaganist has no chance against the twists of Fate, and Ann is really Savage. A knockout flick.

Reviewer: Zeugitai - - February 5, 2010
Subject: unforgettable
This film set my standard for the meaning of "noir." It is one of the few that dares to dispense with the formulaic redemption/salvation. It goes on spiraling down without relief to the bitter end. For this reason alone does it deserve glory in the film noir pantheon. Ann Savage plays her role brilliantly; so much so that she manages to scare the tarnation out of you. Edgar G. Ulmer directed this beautifully. It packs a real punch.

Reviewer: Moongleam - - September 4, 2009
Subject: Derived files fixed
The sound in the automatically derived files is now correct. (The original mpeg2 file has always been correct.)

Reviewer: dmactds - - September 1, 2009
Subject: Chipmunk Audio....
...I started playing this at the site and it was like listening to 'Alvin'; I've watched two other movies today at the site without this 33 1/3 at 45 speed problem.....; what gives?

Regards,
Duncan